Ongoing dry and drought conditions in many parts of Nebraska are supporting hay and forage prices looking toward this fall. Perennial dryland hay production in many parts of the state has been less than average, and annual forages planted for hay in the western third of the state look to be significantly below the long-term average in terms of production.

Forage production on rangeland and pasture in southwest Nebraska and the Panhandle are, in many situations, significantly less than average. This diminished production will result in less fall and winter grazing.

Nationally, there are sufficient stocks of corn, and the current crop in much of the Corn Belt is estimated to be adequate to support December corn futures trading either side of $3.50 per bushel. With the basis differences in Nebraska, a statewide average price is in the area of $3 per bushel of corn.

With harvested forage supplies being tight in much of Nebraska, harvesting corn for silage may be of interest this year, especially with fields that are drought stressed. Having the experience and facilities or area to put up silage is a very important consideration as well.

When evaluating whether to harvest a field for silage or grain, the issue of how to price and value the corn often is a point of uncertainty. Pricing corn silage can be a complex and highly variable process. There are three points in time where corn silage is often priced: standing in the field, packed in the silo, and delivered in the bunk.

Corn for corn silage standing in the field

UNL research has shown that corn silage priced standing in the field before harvest should be valued at 7.65 multiplied by the price per bushel of corn where a ton of corn silage is harvested at 60% to 65% moisture. This multiplier value is consistent regardless of corn price. Corn at $3 x 7.65 = $22.95 per ton in the field.

This accounts for not having to combine or haul grain to market, but also should be the harvest corn price, as we add storage costs to silage, yet corn price increases throughout the year because of storage, at least on average across many years of data.

Corn silage packed in the silo

Harvest, hauling and packing expenses can vary. The 2020 Nebraska Farm Custom Rates survey showed a most common rate of $10 per ton. At $22.95 per ton, plus $10 per ton for harvesting, hauling and packing equals $32.95 per ton in the silo. When $2 per ton is added for storage expense, the price per ton is $34.95.

Corn silage delivered in the bunk

Corn silage because of the ensiling process will experience shrink and dry matter loss from 10% to 20% or more when silage is packed into the silo until it is removed to be fed. With 10% dry matter shrink, the value of silage delivered to the bunk would be $38.83 per ton.

If the shrink loss is 20%, then the value of silage would be $43.69 per ton. Excellent information is available on the beef.unl.edu website illustrating the effect of covering, packing and other management factors to decrease shrink.

Comparing corn silage under current market conditions to other feed resources can be helpful in evaluating whether to harvest a field for silage or as grain. When comparing nutrients in feeds to one another, they should be compared on a price per pound on a dry matter basis consumed by the cattle.

This takes into account all waste loss and expense. The following examples are compared to one another on a price per pound of total digestible nutrients (energy) on a dry matter basis delivered to the bunk.

There are several factors to consider when evaluating whether to harvest corn for grain or for silage. Both methods of harvest have advantages and disadvantages, depending upon an operation's goals and objectives.

Tight forage supplies in many parts of Nebraska combined with current corn market conditions may heighten the attractiveness of harvesting corn for silage this year. For more information on harvesting, storing and feeding corn silage, see the video presentations from the 2016 & 2018 Silage for Beef Cattle Conferences at the beef.unl.edu website.

The nutrient or fertilizer value of manure from cattle-fed corn silage also should be taken into account in determining the value of corn silage. In operations where the nutrient value from manure is utilized with cropping systems, this manure value should be credited back against the cost of the corn silage.

Drought-stressed corn for silage

Harvesting drought-stressed corn as silage may be an option to salvage the crop and also produce needed forage. Producers considering harvesting drought-stressed corn also should evaluate the effect of doing so to future crop production.

The quality of drought-stressed corn silage can vary, but it is usually 85% to 95% the energy value of regular corn silage. A good measure to consider is doing a starch analysis. If you divide the starch percentage (DM basis) in corn silage by 0.70, that gives you an indication of the grain content in silage, which may be very important in drought-stressed or damaged silage.

With drought-stressed corn, caution should be used in harvesting if high nitrates are present. Ensiling can reduce nitrates by 40% to 60%. Nitrates accumulate in the bottom of the stalk, so raising the cutting height also can affect final nitrate concentration in silages, but also yield.

For more information on feeding and pricing drought-damaged corn silage, see the article Options for Drought Damaged Corn Fields and the NebGuide The Use and Pricing of Drought Stressed Corn (G1865). Both of these resources can be found at the beef.unl.edu website.

Berger is a Nebraska Extension beef educator, and Erickson is a Nebraska Extension beef feedlot specialist.

Source: UNL BeefWatch, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.